Rutland steps down as coroner

by jmaloni

Press release

Wed, Apr 17th 2013 09:20 am

Cites
need to spend time with family, business

Niagara
County Fourth District Coroner Richard W. Rutland resigned Tuesday,
citing "personal reasons" in a two-sentence letter of resignation
to county lawmakers. The resignation takes effect April 30.

Rutland,
who was elected to the post in November 2012, after being appointed
to fill a vacancy in June, issued the following statement to clarify
the reasoning behind his resignation:

"It
has been my highest honor to serve the people of Niagara County over
the course of the past year. I vowed, when I took this office, that I
would treat deaths with absolute dignity. I am proud to say I lived
up to that promise. That is also why I have decided to step down.

"The
demands of this post compete with my other professional obligations
and my family life. To be the coroner Niagara County's residents
deserve, I fear those areas might suffer. Alternately, it is
unacceptable to provide anything but the best possible care and
compassion to the bereaved. I do not take this decision lightly, but
I believe it is the right course for both myself and the people I
serve.

"I
wish my successor all the best, and will make myself available for a
transition."